Check-system recorder.



No. 731,602. PATENTED JUNE 23, 1903.

J. H. MaTAGUE. CHECK SYSTEM RECORDER. APPLIOATION FILED DB0. 29. 1902.

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No. 731,602. PATENTED JUNE 23, 1903. J. H. MUTAGUE. CHECK SYSTEM RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 29, 1902.

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Yu: "dans FUER: coA mo'roLrmo.. wnmcmn UNITED STATES Patented .Tune 23, 1903.

PATENT OEEICE.

JAMES H. MCTAGUE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CHECK-SYSTEM RECORDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters` Patent No. 731,602, dated J une 23, 1903.

` Application filed December 29. 1902. Serial No. 137.013. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom, t may concern.:

Be it known that 1, JAMES H. lWIc'lAGUE, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Check- System Recorders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. j

My invention has relation to improvements in recorders for check systems; and it consists in the novel construction of recorder more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my recorder, showing its application to one form of check. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device. Fig. 3 is a top plan with part of type-font broken away. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail on line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail showing construction of the tape-advancing spool.- Fig. 7 is a section on line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a side View of one of the type-bars. Fig. 9 is a vertical section on line 9 9 of Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 is an inverted plan view of the type-bar.

The present recorder is intended for use in connection with a form of check the general nature and construction of which is described and shown in United States Letters Patent No. 674,654, issued to me under date of May 21, 1901; but while applicable to the patented check referred to it may be used in conj unction with any form of check contemplating the stamping or printing of prices opposite the individual items marked on the check, whether such stamped prices are used alone or whether used in conjunction with the written prices generally marked by the Waiter opposite the items (or articles ordered) entered on the check. Where the present recorder is used in conjunction with the patented check referred to, the device at once not only serves to act as a check (verifier) on the cash-register, but is also a check on the aggregate of the sum-totals of the amounts written on the respective checks used in the course of a day, this aggregate in turn corresponding to the sum of the individual items imprinted on the record tape or ribbon forming a part of the present device. The tape herein is a substitute for the large and inconvenient tabulat# ing-sheets used in other and prevailing methods of checking, such sheets being used to tabulate the individual amounts of items carried by the several checks issued by an establish ment during a business day, such tabulation being generally accomplished by hand-stamps provided with type representing the necessary amounts. With my recorder these tabulating-sheets are dispensed With, the several amounts being imprinted on the traveling tape or ribbon referred to at the same time they are stamped on the check.

In detail the device may be described as follows:

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a suitable type font or case, divided into compartments sufficient to hold a number of typebars 2, each typebar being provided with a rubber stamp 2', bearing a duplicate set of price figures corresponding to the several prices of the articles marked on the bill of fare. The faces of the stamps rest on the surface of an ink-pad 3, capable of insertion into the case in the manner of a removable panel, so that it may be inked from time to time. `The upper edge of each type-bar is inclined, so that the figures marked on said edge (said figures representing the denomination of the stamp) may be read to better advantage, the inclined edge at the same time serving as an index to the direction of insertion of the type-bar into the holder of the actuating-lever, as will presently appear.

Projecting from the front wall of the case 1 are spindles 4 and 5, respectively, the former being adapted to support the roll of recordtape 6 and the latter supporting the tapeadvancing spool 7 and the` actuating-lever 8.

The tape unrolls from the spindle 4 onto the spool 7, the intermediate lengthof tape between the spindle 4 and spool 7 being held against the upper surface of the extension plate or platform 9 by the guide-pins 10 10. The roll of tape is slipped onto the spindle 4 by irst removing the'terminal screw-'head 11, the roll being .kept in proper alining position with the spool 7 by a washer 12, forced against IOO the roll by a spring 13, coiled about the spinl dle and interposed between said washer and the case 1.

Loosely pivoted about the spindle 5, adjacent to the front wall of the case or type-font 1, is an actuating-lever 8, normally held elevated by a spring 15, whose inner end is secured in the front wall of the case, the spring then being looped about the spindle 5, thence extending forward, its free end bearing against the under side of a peg 16, carried near the outer end of the lever, the latter being limited in its upward swing by a limitingpin 17, projecting from the front wall of the case.

Forming an integral part of the spool 7 is a ratchet 18, with which engage, respectively, the driving-pawl19 and the locking-pawl 20. Both are spring-pawls, the former being pivoted to the lever, the free lieXed end thereof being brought under a pin 21 and the latter being pivoted to a disk 22, located at the base of the spindle 5, the pivotal pin passing through a curved slot 23, formed in the lever to allow for the necessary oscillation thereof, and the free resilient end of the pawl being brought over the upper surface of the adjacent guide-pin 10. l

It is apparent from the foregoing, Figs. 2 and 5, that as the lever 8 is depressed the pawl 19 will advance the ratchet and spool of which it forms a part, the pawl 20 locking the parts against any possible return movement, the tape being advanced the required distance with each depression of the lever. Upon release of the lever the latter will be restored to its normal position by the spring 15.

The free end of the lever 8 is provided with a loop or holder 24, disposed transversely to the plane of oscillation of the lever, said holder being adapted to receive a type-bar, the latter being guided into said holder by the inclined face of the guide-head 25, located adjacent to the inner end of the loop, the type-bar when once inserted being supported by a lip 26, against which bears the lower edge of the type-bar projecting beyond the adjacent. end of the rubber stamp or type, Figs. 4, 5, 9. The surface of the lip 26 is inclined to the plane of the holder to allow for an inclined insertion of the type-bar, Fig. 1; but by the time the lever has been suiiciently depressed to bring the type-surface against the platform 9 the type-bar will have been swung to a position at right angles to the plane of the platform.

The spool 7 is provided with a removable head 27, provided with an inner stem 28 and a second shorter stem 29,the former being adapted to engage a peripheralgroove 30 of thespool into which the end of the tape is iirst forced, when the stem 28 will securely fasten the tape to the spool, and the stem 29 securely vhold the head in position on the spool, Figs.

G, 7, an opening 31 being formed in the spool for the reception of the shorter stem.

Referring now to the check C, which is provided with an outer price-column a, containing the prices written by the waiter against the several articles ordered on the card the application of the present recorder will be better apparent. The check C isprovided with a'check-column b, the prices in which, under my patent referred to, were stamped by the checker with the stamp attachment of the cash-register. With the present recorder, however, the prices in the check-column are not only imprinted in said column, but the same are imprinted on the recording-tape 6. The check C is placed with the edge of the check-column b against the alining-pegs 32 side by side with the adjacent edge of the tape, so that when the lever 8 with its typebar is depressed the duplicate price carried by the rubber stamp of the type-bar will be simultaneously impressed on the check and the tape, Fig. 1, it being understood that the holder k2i and the respective duplicate figures of the stamp overlap the respective adjacent edges of the check and tape, the division-line between them (being on the line of the pegs 32) lying in the plane of the middle of the holder (or the middle of the stamp when once the type-bar is inserted thereinto.)

Where a cashiers cash-register is employed,

of c'ourse the machine performs its own addition, and The sum-total recorded by a machine at the end of a days business may be generally relied upon as the correct sum of all the sales made; and yet the total sum of the several amounts recorded on the tape 6 in the order in which the several checks are presented to the checker' would serve as a means of checking the accuracy of the machine, (the machine sometimes being out of order,) so that even in establishments where a cashiers cash-register may already be ind stalled the sum-total of the figures entered on the tape would constitute a means of checking the machine. The purpose of the present recorder, however, is to dispense with cashregister stamping-machines, owing to the high price of such machines, the present recorder being capable Ofeifecting the same results at a cost which is nominal when compared with the high cost of the cash-register. While the cash-register may have the advantage of performing its own addition, the mental addition necessary to be performed on the tape is not a disadvantage when the low cost of the l recorder is considered. By adding the several amounts imprinted on the tape at the end ICO IIO

III;

of a days business this amount will serve to check the aggregate of the sum-totals of the columns ct of the several checks presented to the checker, enabling the latter not only to imprint a check-celu mn on each check, (a column verifying the accuracy of the prices written by the waiter,) but to imprint a duplicate of the check-columns'of the various checks onto the tape, whose total can be footed up or computed mentally at the conclusion of the days business. The tape dispenses with the use of the large tabulatingsheets referred to above and as practiced under other systems and also dispenses with the use of cash-register stamping devices as practiced under the system referred to in my patent. The tape of the present Vrecorder takes the place of the automatic adding mechanism of such register, the printing of the check-column being a feature common to both, the present device having the advantage, as before stated, of cheapness and necessarily within the reach of establishments with limited means.

Having described my invention, what I claim is l. A recorder comprising a suitable type font or case adapted to have a traveling record-tape mounted in connection therewith, an actuating-lever for advancing said tape, a type-holder at the free end of the lever, and a removable type-bar adapted to be supported in said holder in a position to cause the face of the type to overlap the edge of the tape, substantially as set forth.

2. A recorder comprising a type font or case, a platform or plate forming a part thereof, a record-tape being adapted to be mounted above the platform, means for holding the opposite ends of a section of the tape permanently against the platform, the latter being extended a suitable distance beyond the tape for the support of a card or check, said check being adapted to be placed side by side with the tape, an actuating-lever for advancing the tape, a type-holder forming a support for the type, the latter being provided with a duplicate set of figures or characters overlapping the line of division between said tape and check when mounted on the holder, said figures being adapted to be simultaneously impressed upon the tape and check, substantially as set forth.

3. A recorder comprising a suitable case, spindles projecting from one of the walls thereof, one of said spindles being adapted to support a roll of tape, a spool mounted on the second spindle for the reception of the tape unwound from the first spindle,a ratchetdisk forming a part of the spool, a lever loosely mounted on the spool-spindle, a spring for normally holding the lever in an elevated position, a type-holder at the free end of the lever disposed transversely to the plane of oscillation of the lever, a driving-pawl carried by the lever, a locking-pawl carried by the case, a platform for the travel of the section of the tape disposed between the spindles, the said platform extending a suitable distance beyond the outer edge of the tape for the support of a suitable check or card, whereby the impression by the type mounted in the holder shall be simultaneous on the tape and card, substantially as set forth.

4. In arecorder, asuitable type-font adapted to have a record-tape mounted in connection therewith, an actuating-lever for the tape, a type-holder at the oscillating end-of the lever mounted transversely to the direction of travel of the tape, a type-bar adapted to be inserted into said holder, a lip on said holder for the support of the type-bar, a head having an inclined face for guiding the typebar into the holder, the type having a duplicate set of impression figures or characters adapted to be simultaneously printed on the tape, and on a check placed adjacent thereto, substantially as set forth.

5. In a recorder, a suitable type-font, a detachable ink-pad mounted in the same, the font being divided into a series of compartments for retaining the type, the printingfaces of the latter resting against the pad, substantially as set forth.

6. In a recorder, a type-font adapted to have a traveling record-tape mounted in connection therewith, a platform or supporting surface projecting from the font for the support of the tape and for the support of a check placed contiguous thereto, and a suitable type-holder mounted adjacent to the type-font and over the platform, and adapted to present the characters of the printing-face of the type against the tape and check, and simultaneously impress the same thereon transversely to the edges of the tape and check, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES H. MCTAGUE.

Vitnesses:

EMIL STAREK, EDWARD W. DUNN. 

